News

A CLARE man who lives in Westbury Residential Centre has organised coffee mornings for Milford Hospice in recognition of the great care they provided to his late parents. Up to 100 family members and friends of Fergal Enright (39) from O’Briensbridge, attended a coffee morning in the residential centre where he lives and another one in his workplace at the Tait Business Centre in Limerick. The coffee mornings raised €1,339 for Milford Hospice. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Fergal said Milford Hospice is very close to his heart because of the treatment staff provided when they cared for his late father, Noel Senior and his amazing mother, Eithne. “My parents got great care in Milford Hospice. I was more than delighted with the support I got for the coffee mornings. If people have any spare money, I would ask them to make a donation to Milford. “I attend the Tait Business Centre three days a week and do …

‘ARROGANCE’ on the part of government was sharply criticised, by a Clare TD, during a debate on a new concrete levy, proposed as a method of funding the defective concrete blocks grant scheme.  A private members’ motion, tabled by Sinn Féin, called for the levy to be scrapped and the suppliers of the defective products to be pursued vigorously for redress. While a promise to modify the terms of the levy in the forthcoming Finance Bill was enough to secure the support of backbenchers, including Deputies Cathal Crowe and Joe Carey, for the government’s position, there was stinging criticism from Clare’s Independent TDs. Deputy Michael McNamara asserted that the law underpinning the new scheme – which is to include Clare and Limerick – was badly drafted. He recalled the concerns of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) at the scant level of pre-legislative scrutiny, and his own calls for legal action to be taken against suppliers. “At the time the …

PROPERTIES in county Clare were among a number searched in an Interpol investigation into organised crime, it has emerged. An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with Interpol and Law Enforcement Agencies across 13 countries on four continents carried out enforcement activity under Operation Jackal, or Operation Skein, as it is named in Ireland. As part of Operation Jackal, nine premises were searched in Dublin and Clare and 11 persons were arrested and detained under Organised Crime legislation. Twenty-three persons were arrested for the purpose of charging and 62 charges were levied for money laundering, with three more for organised crime offences. As part of Operation Jackal a week of international Law Enforcement action was planned for the week commencing September 26. Led by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) due to the volume of arrests/ detentions/ charges in Ireland, the period of action commenced in mid-August. The searches and detentions were conducted by GNECB. The arrests for charging were conducted …

Jack Heaslip was one of the gatekeepers — one of the last of a breed that they don’t make anymore writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh who pays tribute to the Kilkenny-born businessman and GAA man who became more of an Ennis Townie than the born and bred Townies themselves. YOU mightn’t want anything in the shop, but you still went in. To say hello, to talk, or more importantly to listen to some of the nuggets of history that went from Clare to Kilkenny and back again. Many times over. And, they were always nuggets. It could be about Jack’s journey from one shop in Knocktopher in rural Kilkenny to another shop in urban Ennis. It could be about the Kilkenny footballers — yes the Kilkenny footballers that came from his parish and won Leinster senior championships for Kilkenny and county championships for Knocktopher in the early 1900s. Captain Dick Holohan, Jimmy Cody and Dick Dalton were the Knocktopher men he’d …

AN East Clare man has lost almost six stone in weight after signing up to run the New York Marathon on November 6 in memory of his late father. Last January, Declan Moroney, Tulla, started running for the first time, running two kilometres then five kilometres and increased it gradually before completing the Dingle Half-Marathon last September. The 48-year-old is raising funds for the Oesophageal Cancer Society and also for Inclusive Athletics in Tulla and has already collected more than €16,000 for these two charitable causes. “I have lost almost six stone (82 pounds) in the last year and wanted to do something in my dad’s memory. I have never run before so this is a massive undertaking and challenge for me. “I started walking first to lose a bit of weight and when I lost some weight, I started running. I decided if I was ever going to a run a marathon it would be this year. I signed …

DEVELOPERS looking to build 36 new homes on a high-profile site in Tulla have moved to address concerns raised by planners over “piecemeal development”.  In May, Woodhaven Developments lodged plans for the estate on a prominent greenfield site, close to Glebe House on Church Road. During the public consultation phase, four submissions were made. These expressed concerns over the proposed boundary of the estate, as well as potential pedestrian access onto lands belonging to a third party.  On foot of these submissions, as well as separate concerns of their own, planners requested Further Information (FI) from Woodhaven. They sought more details on the proposed connectivity between the site and the town’s Main Street. Planners expressed concerns that the proposed development might not comply with site zoning. While the site is zoned for residential development, there is a specific site objective that connectivity is created into the town centre. The FI request also asked Woodhaven to “satisfactorily demonstrate ownership of all …

THE electricity bill for Ballina Riverside Swimming Pool jumped by 52% in August 2022, according to new figures released by the local pool committee. Pool manager, Paddy Collins admitted this massive hike was a “huge shock to the system” and will have implications on how the outdoor heated swimming pool will be run next year. “If ESB bills keep on increasing, some businesses will close. The rising electricity bills will have a massive impact on the pool. We have to heat a huge volume of water. “We will have to be careful about when we are going to open and close. I can’t see us opening in September next year. “We will have to be tighter on our hours and will have to look at how we are running the place. Everything will have to be re-evaluated next year. “I am involved in other sports clubs, which are struggling as well. Purchasing LED lighting involves a huge outlay for clubs.” …

A MAN alleged to have carried out a burglary and four thefts over a 45-minute period in Ennis on Wednesday, has been refused bail.  Nathan Egan (29), with an address at Sandfield Court, Ennis, appeared at Ennis district court this Thursday charged in connection with a series of offences at businesses in the town centre on October 12.  Egan is charged with stealing various items from Haven Pharmacy, Abbey Street; Lifestyle sports, High Street, and Eurogiant, O’Connell Square.  He is also accused of stealing a racer bike valued at €1000 at the Friary car park.  Egan is further charged with entering the Queens Hotel as a trespasser with intent to commit theft.  Garda Joe Kearney told the court he arrested Egan on Abbey Street at 6.20pm on October 12. The court heard the accused was charged with five offences.  Garda Kearney said the accused made no reply to any of the charges after caution. Solicitor Tara Godfrey applied for bail …